Stars victory explained

The Melbourne Stars successfully chased down the revised target under the Duckworth-Lewis method last night.

After dismissing the Scorchers for just 69, the Stars began their run chase in full flight, finishing the second over at 0-29 before rain halted play.

When the Stars left the field, their target was 70 off 20 overs. After a significant rain delay, umpires reduced the Stars innings to five overs and using the Duckworth-Lewis method, their victory target was set at 6 runs.

Clause 12.6.2 b (iii) of the BBL Playing Conditions reads: “To constitute a match, a minimum of 5 overs have to be bowled to the team batting second subject to a result not being achieved earlier.”

When play could resume, there was only enough time left to complete the five overs, and as the Stars had already reached the revised target of 6 they were awarded the victory.

The full sequence of play was as follows:

Scorchers made 10-69. Stars set a target of 70 from 20 overs.

Stars 0-29 off 2 overs when rain interrupted play. No result achieved though as at this stage their target is 70.

Match reduced. To constitute a match (i.e. complete another 3 overs) play needed to resume by 7:51pm. It stopped raining, and teams were informed that if everything was in order following a field inspection that play would resume.

After a field inspection at approx. 7:35pm, umpires deemed it fit for play and rescheduled the match to start at 7:51pm. Teams notified.

D/L calculation updated, which set the Stars a new target of 6 runs off 5 overs.

As the D/L target had changed when overs were lost, play needed to resume to set the revised target (this is why the umpires and players returned to the field).

After a minor delay with the teams getting ready, play resumed at 7:52pm. As soon as play resumed (that is, the teams were set on the field and the umpire calls ‘play’), the new target of 6 runs was set.

As the Stars had reached the target, the result was achieved and the match finished after 2.1 overs of the second innings. At this point, a ball didn’t actually need to be bowled, however the umpires and teams agreed that it would look very odd for the play to be set to resume only for everyone to walk straight back off the field.

It was agreed by the Umpires that a ball would be bowled to visually demonstrate to fans at the ground and watching on TV that the match had re-commenced.